The Hawaiian gazette., 1887-12-06
GIBSON.
= Victim of Woznan's Wiles Prey
of Political Plots Queer Statements
About the Suit and the Trial
- II 81 - chresiclel

The account in Yesterdays Jf9rOn-
fc1c giving in detail the evidence in
the breach-of-promise suit for $4,000,
brought At Honolulu by Mrs. Flora
Howard ~. Clair against eN-PnemIer
W. NJ. Gibson created considerable
discussion among persons 10 whom
the interested parties are known The
fact that the aged defendant had al
lowed the suit TO so 10 trial without
offering the slightest evidence in his
behalf WAS considered mysterious, 10
say the least. For the purpose Of hear
ing eN-Premier GibSOn'S explanation
ofThe case a Chronicle reporter called
upon him n -. MaTy'S Hospital YES
teriay.
Mr.. Gibson. are You aware that the
breach-of-pDomiSe suit brought against
You bv Mr.. Flora Howard 81. Clair
II Honolulu has resulted 10 her in 4
verdict of Sl0.0ll9' asked the reporter.
Il am well aware Of ii, young man,
said Mr.. Gibson. complacently SJD16-
Ing his venerable gray beard
.Will YOU kindly furnish the read
erS Of the Chronicle with few facts
concerning your connection with the
ladvS'
There ara some points which in
Justice 20 myself you are entitled 10
hear" began the old gentleman. lei>-
urely. But I VIII commence NJ the
beginning. MrS. Howard. a. she was
firSt known 10 me. arrived in Homo
lula sometime in the summer II 1885.
Prior 10 her arrival IN the Islands, she
and her sister. Alice Caldwell. We're
book agents in the employ Of Bancroft
=
up their residence II a prominent
boariinC-hOU>e Just about the time
the Legislature met in JULY. Ny first
view 81 Mrs. Howard was in the As
>embly chamber. which she daily
visited in the capacity OF book agent.
She seemed 10 make numerous friends
and sold many books"
when did YOU first make her aG-
quain-aHce1 asked the scribe. during
the pause which followed Mr. Glib
SOM statement
well" resumed he, meditatively.
i believe il was in the early part Of
December. l was in my office one day
when she called and requested me 10
purchase some books for which she
claimed 10 be sole agent. I looked
over her list which included sample
copies Illustrative Of French art. The
pictureS were Of the nudity o1Jier. and
She took especial pains 10 impress
upon me the volupJuOuS beauties of a
Bust Of Venus and the clear outlines
of Audromeia'S figure chained 10 4
rock. She told me on q subsequent
occasion that il was common error
70 view the ancient types Of feminine
beauty n models. and that the charms
Of Venus could be totally eclipsed by
women Of the present day. She also,
in her vanity, compared her form with
that Of Venus. and intimated that the
comparison was in no wise diSpara-
ging 70 her.
How did YOU regard her liberal
views9''
4 had no opportunity and did not
desire 10 contradict her statements.
She had a good figure, was rather
slender and Of s medium height. She
was probably s. years OF age, and an
excellent converSationaliSt Mrs.
Howard cannot be regarded - a
beauty. but there Is something WIN
ming about her WAYS. and that Is all
/ can say OF her in that respect. Her
face bore q crafty look, and al first
L
ful. Scheming woman. She called
upon me several times, and one day
asked me 10 present her 10 the King
/ refused her this favor, but presented
her 70 the chamberlain. through
whom the King was led 10 purchase
quite = number Of books. She -hen
invited me 10 call upon her. which
did She also visited me at my house
and once wnote me a letter concerning
a trivial matter, which I did not
answer. Her statement that I treated
her with foudneSS and manifested my
liking by kissing her Is s. SoluIely
false. 1 treated her - I did al my
lady acquaintance in HOnOiu .u-wiIh
respect. Ii l. my nature 70 be gay
and convivial. and. l suppose, she mis-
construed my actions toward her.
While her statements are in the main
correct, all her talk about my mani
festationS of love l. a deliberate lie. l
never told her that though | was old,
! had q Young heart or placed in my
pocket a rose which had dropped from
her breast. These tales were told for =
purpose and instisated by my political
enemies"
Did YOU make promise Of mar
riage al any times
II never dreampt Of doing such a
thing. | have been a wiGOwer for
forty years. and in my travels over the
world have had many opportunities OF
making brilliant marriages had l felt
- INCLINED. Would il not argue 3
lack Of judgment on my part if. after
all these years, / would have become
- infatuated a. 10 marry \ book Sgent2
1 never entertained the proposition 3
moment. l assure You. Mrs.. Howard,
in one OF her confidential moments,
told me her husband had been u Ne
vada gambler named Howard St Clair.
who had died al the Palmer House At
Chicago some years ago She SubSe-
Quently assumed the entire name, a.
She said. on my solicitation.
When did she bring suit for dam
ages
some time ia April. Prior TO that
time the GAZETTE had stated that we
were engaged. The revolution came
on. and my arrest by the political
league, led by Colonel Ashford OF the
Rifles. followed. / had not seen Mrs.
Howard for some time, and the only